FOG has caused severe disruption at Ronaldsway Airport today.
There have been a number of cancellations and passengers have been subject to long delays.
The airport advises that people check its website for more information about arrivals and departures.
PARKING fines will increase from £40 to £60 from August 1.
And the increase is just one of a range of changes to fixed penalties being implemented by the Department of Infrastructure on that date aimed at encouraging greater compliance with road traffic regulations
The Road Traffic Regulation (Fixed Penalty) Order 2012 prescribes three bands of penalties.
The first involves the fixed penalty for more serious offences involving obligatory endorsement which will be increased from £80 to £120.
These include offences such as: parking on the zig-zags at a pedestrian crossing; exceeding the speed limit; leaving a vehicle in dangerous position; and breaching the conditions of a provisional licence.
The second band relates to a new fixed penalty of £120 which has been prescribed for the unlawful use of disabled persons’ off-street or on-street parking spaces.
This is designed to act as an increased deterrent compared to the current fine of £40.
The third band involves the fixed penalty for non-endorsable offences, such as on-street parking offences, the fines for which will increase from £40 to £60.
The penalty of £40 was last prescribed in 2002.
All fixed penalty fines that are not paid within 42 days automatically increase by 50 per cent thereafter as they do at present.
Infrastructure Minister David Cretney MHK said: ‘I am particularly concerned about the level of abuse of disabled parking bays, of which there were 201 fixed penalties issued in 2011.
‘I am hoping therefore that the new fine of £120, which is double the standard fine of £60, will act as an incentive and stop the illegal use of disabled parking bays.’
A 74-year-old man Douglas man died in the collision which occurred on the Mountain Road at the Creg-ny-Baa at 10am today (Tuesday), police have confirmed.
Although witnesses have come forward to assist, police are eager to speak with any other witnesses who were in the area at the time.
The two vehicles involved were a Ramsey-bound silver and blue Smart car and a Douglas-bound black Vauxhall Zafira.
The deceased man’s details have not been released, but his immediate family and the Coroner of Inquests have been informed.
THE bell may have sounded for the end of the academic year but teaching staff will be spending part of the summer helping students get a head start in their move up from primary school to high school.
More than 100 11-year-olds who are making the move from primary to secondary school have been identified to take part in week-long ‘Headstart’ schemes during the holidays.
Ballakermeen High, Castle Rushen High, Queen Elizabeth II High and Ramsey Grammar are taking part. They and their partner primaries have identified students who would benefit from the schemes which aim to make learning, numeracy and literacy fun and related to everyday contexts.
Last year, schemes used sites such as Mooragh Park and Peel Castle to help students understand that these skills are useful not only in the classroom but are also essential in everyday life.
As well as noticing an improvement in their child’s literacy and numeracy skills, parents have recognised an increase in their child’s confidence and the positive impact on their child spending some extra time working with secondary staff, who will then be familiar faces in September. Headstart schemes are organised by the schools but funded by the Department of Education and Children.
Education Minister Tim Crookall MHK said: ‘We recognise the vital importance of literacy and numeracy skills for our students and we are aware that this boost may help them better access all areas of the curriculum when they take the landmark step of starting secondary school. We are happy to support these schemes and I’d like to thank the teaching staff who’ll be giving up part of their summer holidays to make this learning opportunity both valuable and enjoyable for students.’
THE parents of a baby who died aged just 12 days old are raising money in his memory.
Clare and Simon Glynn-Riley, of Ballakillowey, Rushen, lost their son Henry in January.
Henry died suddenly from corona virus, a respiratory tract infection, leaving his parents and three sisters Beatrice, Florence and Clementine, all under five, devastated.
The couple did the Parish Walk to Peel last month and their Just Giving page has so far seen donations reach £1,590. The money is being raised for the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID), which funds research, supports bereaved families and promotes safe baby care advice.
To donate, visit the page below, and for more information about FSID, visit the organisation’s website.
{http://www.justgiving.com/simonandclaresparishwalk|justgiving.com/simonandclaresparishwalk}
{http://www.fsid.org.uk|www.fsid.org.uk}
DOUGLAS’ Clear Mountain Mixed Martial Arts club welcomed well-known former karate international and security mogul Peter Consterdine to the club for a seminar and practical demonstrations.
The 9th-dan black belt has acted as a bodyguard for high-profile clients around the world, published several books and served as a consultant to the UK Home Office for police and prison guard training manuals.
‘My particular skill set is impact development, and how traditional martial arts works in the streets. I also make sure students are familiar with the law,’ he said.
Does a place like the Isle of Man offer any unique self defence issues? ‘This was my first visit to the island, but I have worked in 30 countries, and really the problems are all the same. Wherever you are, most people will freeze in confrontational situations.’
The Clear Mountain club’s new South Quay Industrial Estate facility opened earlier this year.
‘The dojo is absolutely fantastic,’ observed Peter. ‘It’s an international standard facility, what martial arts should be delivered in.’
Even poor weather couldn’t temper Peter’s visit. ‘I used to live in the west of Scotland,’ he laughed. ‘So I’m well used to the rain!’
NOBLE’S Hospital was the venue last week for the launch of the island’s fifth annual Manx Produce Week.
The display of Manx foods was in the hospital’s restaurant where catering staff have been demonstrating to patients and staff the volume and quality of local ingredients and food stuffs they use in their day-to-day food preparation.
Featuring prominently are such local companies as Robinson’s, Isle of Man Creameries, Harrison and Garrett and Greeba Mushrooms, all of which supply their products to the hospital’s canteen which has been renamed Thie Bee, meaning ‘eating place’, in Manx.
The hospital’s catering services manager Derek Peters said: ‘This is the fifth year that we have held an event celebrating the support that Noble’s Hospital gives to local suppliers. It is more important than ever in the current climate to support and secure a sustainable local food economy.
‘By highlighting products used in the hospital to the staff and patients we hope to send out the positive message that locally-sourced sustainable products are good for the economy, good for the environment and good for the staff, patients and visitors to Noble’s.’
Each year Manx Food Week raises funds for a selected charity, which this year is the Manx Blind Welfare Society to help replace their audio library.
Throughout the week raffle tickets were sold giving the chance to win a variety of items donated by Manx producers. First prize, from Kathy Irwin of Greeba Farms, was a living display of mushrooms, a fruit basket and a fish platter. Other equally generous prizes included a Manx-themed hamper and Ken Hom wok.
Health Minister David Anderson MHK said: ‘This is another fantastic display of how the department supports local food producers by shopping local.
‘Noble’s Hospital and the department are 100 per cent behind our local food producers, and demonstrating this commitment to our patients, staff and the public is important. Good nutrition is absolutely vital to good health, and doubly so when someone is unwell.
‘It is paramount that we continue to show our support to the island’s farmers and their produce so they can continue to provide Noble’s Hospital with the great tasting, healthy, fresh and nutritious food we rely on every day.’
As always, this year’s event has been extended to the patients at Noble’s Hospital as a way to promote Manx produce and how it is used in patient recipes. A special menu has been produced and the patients have had chance to sample the local produce.
FREE trade sales manager Tony Temple has retired from Heron and Brearley after 22 years with the company.
Mr Temple joined Heron and Brearley (H&B) in 1990 as warehouse manager and during his career there became one of the most popular and respected people working in the Isle of Man’s hospitality sector.
After setting up H&B’s warehousing operation in Kewaigue, Mr Temple later ran the Hi Spirits off-licence on Prospect Terrace. However, it is as a real champion of Okells brewery that Tony Temple is perhaps best known. A proud Manxman, who in his own words, was ‘weaned on Okells’ (his favourite ale being Okells Spring Ram), Tony Temple ran countless tours of the brewery and tastings for guests from all over the world during his time with H&B.
He subsequently assumed responsibility for Heron and Brearley’s wholesale department where, during his tenure, he took sales to record-breaking levels, securing a number of the Isle of Man’s major accounts.
At a reception at the company’s Kewaigue headquarters to mark Mr Temple’s retirement, Heron and Brearley’s chairman Jonathan Clague said Mr Temple had been ‘a tireless ambassador’ for the brewery and continued: ‘Tony’s true value has been “getting out there” and forging great customer relationships,’ adding that he had developed ‘a fantastic reputation’ with customers, suppliers and local authorities. Mr Clague praised Mr Temple’s friendship, professionalism and leadership that had been much appreciated by his colleagues and on behalf of the company wished him well for a long and happy retirement.
In his response Mr Temple, who was presented with gifts from the board and staff of Heron and Brearley, thanked the directors for placing their faith in him when he joined the company. He said that as a Manxman born and bred he had known Heron and Brearley all his adult life, adding: ‘In a way I always felt part of the company even before coming to work here’. In closing he said that although the industry was witnessing many changes and challenges he was confident Heron and Brearley was ‘set on a strong path for the future.’
An avid motorcycle fan, Mr Temple, who lives in Glen Vine, is secretary of the Isle of Man Auto-Cycle Union centre board and of the Manx national two-day trial committee and is a familiar figure as a TT and Manx Grand Prix marshal. Unsurprisingly in retirement he is looking forward to more opportunities to go motorcycling.
Under-17s suffer 47-run defeat in Euro Division Two opener
THE Isle of Man’s under-17 cricketers suffered defeat in their first match of this week’s ICC European Division Two Championship held in Copenhagen on Tuesday afternoon.
Italy overcame the Manx by 47 runs after the Italians recovered from a poor start to rack up a 210 from their 50 overs before restricting Gareth Dawson and Phil Littlejohns’s teens to just 163 in reply.
In warm conditions at the Svanholm Park venue in the Danish capital, the Manx started well taking three wickets in the first 11 overs of the Italian innings.
However, with the Italians at 33-3 they rallied, Shenal Amarakoon and Saiful Anik putting on an impressive 150 runs for the fourth wicket.
The pair eventually departed for 74 and 73 respectively, but by that point they had put their side in a good position at 195 for five. Some sharp fielding saw the Isle of Man peg their opponents back a little with a few more wickets, but the Italians finished with a healthy total of 210 to defend after their 50 overs.
Pick of the island bowlers was Ramsey’s Nick White who took three wickets for 31 runs. Cronkbourne duo Andrew Vels and Sam Kebbell collected the island’s other two wickets.
Some tight bowling by the Italians had the Manx pinned down from the start of their innings.
When opener Vels departed after 15 overs the Isle of Man had only scored 31 runs as they struggled to raise the run rate over two an over.
Skipper Rowan Bird aided fellow middl-order men Brendan Coleman and Kebbell threatened to rally the Manx innings hitting 29, 18 and 22, the latter’s off just 27 balls. However, Italian bowler Saiful Anik soon exposed the Manx tail taking four wickets for 21 runs in a devastating six-over spell. The Manx finished with a flurry thanks to a bright and breezy 12 not out from Finch Hill wicketkeeper Matthew Ogden, but it proved too little too late as the IoM ended on 163-9.
The island have no time to dwell on defeat as they take on tournament hosts Denmark on Wednesday in their second match of the week starting at 11am.
THE president of the Methodist Church of Sierra Leone, the Right Reverend Arnold Temple, spent five days visiting the island, developing the twinning relationship with the local Methodist Church.
The twinning was established last year in Freetown during a trip by a group from the island.
During his visit, Rev Temple preached at an all-island service at Peel and visited informal groups at churches in Glen Maye, Port Erin, Loch Promenade in Douglas and Laxey, stressing the need for the church to be active and visible in the community around it.
This is certainly the case in Sierra Leone, where the church runs more than 120 schools, as well as hospitals and clinics. The church is also engaged in the political process.
‘We are gearing up to monitoring the forthcoming elections in November, to help ensure they are fair and free from intimidation,’ explained Rev Temple.
He also visited Douglas harbour to inspect and consecrate the government’s fisheries patrol vessel Panther, to be re-named Isle of Man and donated to the Sierra Leone government.
Paul Craine, chairman of the Methodist Church’s twinning group (Skimmee Lannoonnaghey in Manx), said: ‘Arnold’s visit here has allowed us to explore practical ideas of how we can deepen the bond between us: possible exchange visits, learning about and praying for each other, and financial support – it’s a two-way process.’
I LANDED at Ronaldsway last Tuesday, refreshed and alert after R&R and aware that in my absence the Chief Minister had been down to make a statement in Tynwald on whether or not the Manx Government was thinking about going for independence for the Isle of Man.
Standing on the tarmac I sniffed our sweet mountain air for the acrid smell of bloody rebellion.
Not a whiff.
I drove into Douglas. There was no barbed wire barricade at the Fairy Bridge manned by men – and presumably women; you can’t tell in those black balaclavas and ill-fitting fatigues – hefting Kalashnikov AK47s as if they knew what to do with one.
The next morning I went to my workplace at Manx Radio. All was what passes for normal at Broadcasting House. The Isle of Man’s national radio station had not been taken over by rebel forces.
It was now clear to me that in Tynwald Mr Bell had simply said: ‘No.’
The Manx Spring, the fight for freedom from the brutal colonial repression imposed on us by the British Government, had stalled yet again.
In my experience we have had a few shots at it – if that’s the way to put it – over the past 50 years but nothing has come of them.
It’s not surprising. Even Mr Bell who, as I recall, was well up for independence in his early days, knows it would have certain drawbacks.
For one thing, we haven’t got the money to raise an army, we’d have to nationalise Flybe and tool up their aeroplanes to make an air force, and the most fearsome thing we have afloat in the way of a navy is the Tarroo Ushtey.
Also, we haven’t got enough diplomats. There would have to be Manx embassies in all the 170 major countries of the world, just like Britain, and we would need ambassadors and other people to run them.
It’s not easy being a world power, you know.
There’s also another little thing. Well, a pretty big thing actually. There would have to be a president of the Democratic Republic of the Isle of Man chosen to live in and rule from Government House.
This would involve His Excellency Adam Wood and family being marched down, perhaps in chains, to catch the Ben-my-Chree’s morning departure for Heysham.
It would not be a nice thing to do during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Year but perhaps better than facing a firing squad on Tynwald Hill.
So, what next?
The new president would have to be democratically elected. The first thought is that he or she would be a politician and I would think the Liberal Vannin Party will have a couple of candidates in mind.
But I do not agree. I would insist that the presidency should be open to each and every one of us, you and me my fellow Manx men and women, someone who . . .
What? No, no, no. Thanks all the same but not at my time of life.
Unless the money’s good.
• Just before I went on R&R I heard the morning news on Manx Radio telling me that I should boil my water before drinking it.
In the morning my water is already pretty hot. But I wouldn’t dream of drinking it anyway.
• WIMBLEDON 2012 has passed by and I have been given a cutting of a magazine article about Leon Smith, a relatively unknown Scot, who was mentored by Ivan Lendl at the Australian Open and there is a picture caption saying: ‘Sitting across from Ivan Lendl, drinking a cup of coffee in the Melbourne sunshine, Leon Smith admitted that he took a moment to give himself a tug.’
You can’t tell him to pull the other one.
BUS drivers are facing the loss of paid lunch breaks as cash-strapped government continues to try and make savings.
At a meeting held last Friday between trade union representatives and Department of Community, Culture and Leisure management, those representing the drivers were told an urgent saving of £300,000 was needed and could be made if drivers relinquished their paid lunch.
It is believed this could cost the average bus driver between £3,500 and £4,000 a year, which would equate to a 12 per cent pay cut.
Minutes from the meeting, obtained by the Isle of Man Courier, show director of public transport Ian Longworth proposed a two week period during which the department was open to negotiations and suggestions on where else the saving could be made. After that he said there would be no option other than to revise the terms of the drivers’ working agreement, which would apply from November 1.
Some suggestions were made by union reps about charging those in the 60 to 65 age bracket who are in employment to use the buses. At present they travel free, as do other pensioners and children.
Mr Longworth is quoted as saying drivers who do not agree with the new terms could ‘choose to leave’ the department’s employment. It would not count as redundancy ‘as long as the changes to the terms and conditions were reasonable’.
Union reps are seeing this as a veiled ‘90 days’ notice’ threat and are unhappy it has been made so early on in the negotiations.
One union representative, Brian Glover, is quoted in the minutes as telling management there would be ‘a fight’ if management tried to take away lunch breaks.
Newly appointed DCCL Minister Graham Cregeen was at the meeting, as was his chief executive Nick Black.
Unite the Union held a further meeting on Wednesday night to discuss members’ options.
iomtoday understands that, although it is a possibility, members are keen to consider strike action only as a last resort. They want to negotiate with management but believe taking away the paid lunch hour is unfair as they lost other areas of pay when they began receiving it. These areas of pay would not be reinstated if it was removed.
It is also understood the union has suggested the introduction of discretionary sick pay as a way of making the required saving, but only if it applied across the DCCL and not just to bus service staff.
Under-17s defeated by hosts in their second match of the tournament
THE Isle of Man suffered a second defeat at the European Division Two Championship on Wednesday losing to hosts Denmark by six wickets.
Batting first the Manx racked up a total of 188 as they were bowled out just shy of their 50-over allocation.
Opener Adam McAuley did his best to anchor the island’s innings hitting 61, but partners at the other end began to run out with skipper Rowan Bird and Cronkbourne’s Sam Kebbell offering the best support with 26 and 32 respectively.
The hosts in reply intially started well with Fazan Ahmed and Mads Rasmussen putting on 70 for the first wicket.
Some tight bowling from the island’s Matthew Ansell, Seb Aycock, Nathan Knights and Kebbell, the later two picking up wickets, slowed the Denmark chase and brought the Manx back into the game.
However, Ahmed wasn’t to be denied and a sparkling 85 not out helped him see his side home with just under four overs to go.
The island are back in action tomorrow, Thursday, with two Twenty20 games against Italy and Denmark.
Judges for the I Love Manx ‘Chef of the Year’ competition met recently to review entries and have chosen a shortlist of four to compete at the Royal Manx Agricultural Show for a place in the finals to be held at the Isle of Man Food & Drink Festival .
Semi-finalists for the 2012 ‘Chef of the Year’ competition are:
l Yohann Bonjus, The Nunnery, Old Castletown Road, Douglas
l Malcolm Bartolo, Jar Restaurant, Duke Street, Douglas
l Rich Ashcroft, Patchwork Café, Bay View Road, Port St Mary
l Robert Hooper, L’Experience, Summer Hill, Douglas.
Their recipes include Manx fillet of beef with Greeba mushroom gratin, crab cannelloni, home-smoked callig with soda bread and two tastes of Manx mackerel.
The chefs have created recipes using Manx produce in new and exciting ways, making the most of its quality and seasonal availability.
The semi-finals will be held at the Royal Manx Agriculture Show on Friday, August 10, at 3pm where the judges will be Kate Beecroft MHK, Tony Quirk and a representative from Manx Gas Ltd.
The two finalists will need to impress celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott at the Isle of Man Food and Drink Festival on Saturday, September 22.
The winner will receive £500 cash plus an advertisement in a magazine and a plaque and certificate.
The competition is sponsored by Manx Gas, and Gary Cregeen, sales and marketing manager, said: ‘I am really looking forward to the semi-finals and having the chance to taste the recipes which have been submitted by our chosen shortlist of chefs. I hope that there will be a full audience at the Royal to cheer them on – and, of course, to join in the tasting afterwards.’
Last year’s winner, Mohammed Hoque, from the Spice of India Restaurant in Ramsey, said: ‘I have had a lot of positive feedback from customers.
‘Wnning this competiton has been fantastic for our business. I wish this year’s participants the best of luck.’
THE Office of Fair Trading is again warning consumers against being caught by scammers advertising pets online.
A UK consumer was won over by images of a puppy advertised on a website and contacted the seller via email. The seller provided a residential address in the Isle of Man.
But after paying a large sum of money using the Moneygram service for the transportation of the dog and further money because of the animal’s ‘health problems’ the consumer still did not receive the puppy.
Realising that even if the puppy exists it would not be delivered to them they reported the issue to the Office. The consumer involved in this particular case has lost thousands of pounds.
If you are interested in an animal advertised in this way please check carefully what is being offered. Visit the seller and view the animal yourself. Do not pay any money up front – if you cannot collect the animal yourself arrange and pay for transport costs directly with a carrier.
Andrea Tabb, advice centre manager warns: ‘The truth is that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.’
Consumers who would like further advice on scams should visit the OFT website http://www.gov.im/oft/consumers/scams.xml or you can contact the consumer advisers on 686500.
LIEUTENANT Governor Adam Wood praised the contribution made by the Isle of Man Prison Service as he presented members of staff with the Queen’s Jubilee Medal.
Mr Wood said the prison and its personnel played an important role by helping to maintain community safety in the island and to resettle offenders into the community on completion of their sentences.
A total of 96 officers at Jurby qualified to receive the Jubilee Medal, which is issued on behalf of the Queen to honour the dedication and service of public sector workers as she marks 60 years on the throne.
It recognises the efforts of people working in key front-line services, including members of the Armed Forces, emergency services and prison personnel, with at least five years’ operational service.
The Lieutenant Governor presented medals to 40 members of staff at Jurby, while the remaining staff will receive their medals from prison governor Alison Gomme.
Mrs Gomme said: ‘We were delighted to welcome the Lieutenant Governor to the prison as the Queen’s representative in the Isle of Man. The Jubilee Medals are recognition of the role played by prison staff in public life and a lasting memento of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.’
‘IT’S a bit like a video game for planning.’
Director of planning Michael Gallagher is enthusiastic about about the Department of Infrastructure’s new online visual planning guidance tool, the Interactive House.
He explained the tool is a simple, visual and very quick way for members of the public to find easy to understand guidance on whether a planning and/or building control application is required, by the click of a mouse.
At any time of the day, the public can look at the outside or inside of the house to select a feature such as a house extension, solar panels or even a flag pole, and find out the detail about planning and building control requirements.
Said Mr Gallagher: ‘The whole purpose of this is so that members of the public with simple queries can resolve them quickly. It is easy to use and very visual.
‘It’s part of our endeavours to try and make planning more understandable and more user friendly.
‘We have worked with partners to adapt an existing piece of software and make sure it is appropriate for the Isle of Man situation.
‘It’s great, there’s a 3D look around the front and the back, plus inside the house.’
Chairman of the planning committee Howard Quayle MHK said: ‘Members of the public are sometimes confused as to whether they do or do not need planning permission or building control approval. This is a great tool that helps them to navigate the requirements, and because it is so visual it is really easy to use.
‘This is another good example of how the division is continuously seeking to improve its service to customers.’
The planning and building control division receives a significant number of telephone calls, visits to reception and emails about minor planning queries. The cost of dealing with these queries face-to-face is very expensive compared with allowing the home user to access the information at their leisure and from the comfort of their own home.
The DoI has an ongoing programme to make its services more accessible online and through mobile applications. The Interactive House is the third service to be put online as part of this project and follows the ‘Report a Problem’ smart phone application and Vehicle Tax online. More services will be rolled out as the year progresses
Although detailed, the Interactive House cannot cover every eventuality and therefore the advice is to contact the planning office if in doubt. For instance, if you live in a conservation area the rules are different.
‘If in doubt, ask, is the good approach to take,’ said Mr Gallagher.
www.myhouse.im
The Italian estate agent was very specific: ‘If you buy the house, you have to have the dog.’
Louise Badger and Lawrence Kershaw were gobsmacked when they learned that the dog with the scruffy coat and floppy ears sitting at the gate of the villa Poggiolino was a ‘non-negotiable’ part of the purchase.
The couple had spent eight years dreaming about a home in Tuscany and the dilapidated and dirty ‘cross between a Swiss chalet and a Californian bungalow’ near the ancient city of Lucca was certainly not part of the idyll... but one look at Todo’s ‘huge, enchanting smile’ and the deal was sealed.
There are shaggy dog stories, and then there are dog tales that make you go ‘aaah.’ And Todo is just the sort of canine that no one can resist, least of all the husband and wife team from London whose love affair with the Italian way of life and a big-hearted dog inspired this moving memoir.
With Todo as their faithful companion, the couple began to restore Poggiolino, unlocking the house’s secrets and giving Todo, their newly acquired and beloved dog, a second chance at life.
Their strange and quirky home, perched halfway up a Tuscan hillside, had seen better days but it still resonated with the presence of its previous owner, an elderly American woman who had died two years earlier.
Since that time, her dog Todo had lived there alone. He was fed twice a day by the former housekeeper Signora Teresa but the dog refused to leave despite frequent attempts to move him. His lonely vigil had not crushed or cowed him, however, because he seemed to know the house was just waiting for the right people to buy it.
And so began three years of incredible challenges for Badger and Kershaw who had to renovate their new home, relocate their music agency business and set about learning how to live the Italian way.
Along the way they discovered how to cope with the endless frustrations of rules, regulations and officialdom, building nightmares, cultural differences and language mix-ups. Throughout all these teething problems, they were helped by the ever faithful Todo who brought out the best in people, whatever their nationality.
As the stunning landscape, glorious food, fine wines and devoted Todo started to soothe troubled breasts, Badger and Kershaw also found the meaning of true friendship, loyalty and resilience.
This is not just the story of a couple’s move to a new home and a new country; it is a warm, affectionate and inspirational account of an extraordinary dog who broke down cultural barriers and became the key to happiness.
(Hodder & Stoughton, hardback, £16.99)
PERMANENT Bank International (PBI) gave a presentation about the bank’s history and profile to the Manx Retirement Association.
More than 60 association members attended the event at Glen Helen Lodge for the presentation by Permanent Bank International managing director Carlton Freegard, and business development manager David Fulton.
They gave their view of the recent years of the financial crisis from an Irish perspective.
In particular, the presentation focused on how Ireland has made good progress towards meeting the requirements of the EU, European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund with a major restructuring of its economy and banking sector.
The Permanent Bank International executives also spoke about the recent restructuring of the Permanent TSB group, how this has strengthened PBI’s position in the Isle of Man, and the group’s commitment to the island which involves PBI building a bank which is a welding together of the private bank and the mutual building society where time is taken to get to know clients.
Mr Freegard thanked the Manx Retirement Association for their interest in the presentation and added that Permanent Bank International will organise similar events for the B2B market and fiduciary sector in the autumn.
The Manx Retirement Association was founded in 1999 and is a registered charity that provides a comprehensive range of social and cultural activities for the over 55s.
Derek Jones, Manx Retirement Association deputy director, said members enjoyed and appreciated the event and thanked Mr Freegard and Mr Fulton for their contribution.
Permanent Bank International was established on the Isle of Man in 1994. It is a specialist international savings and deposit bank, offering competitive Sterling and Euro accounts for up to five years.
It is licensed by the Isle of Man Financial Supervision Commission and based on the second floor of Britannia House, Athol Street. For more information go to www.permanent-bank.com
STAKES will be high in the PokerStars Manx Classic which swings into action at Ramsey on Friday (July 26).
The long-running Pro-Am doubles up as the fifth of nine PGA North Region Order of Merit events with the leading four professionals battling for points over two days.
Top of the table is Bolton-based Steve Parry who was one of the first to book his ferry ticket to the island where his victory at Mount Murray in 2010 helped him to clinch the Mike Slater Memorial merit trophy.
Parry, 33, who runs the North West Golf Academy at Westhoughton club Hart Common, is 60 points ahead of serial winner and fellow Lancastrian Barry Taylor.
The teaching pro at Houghwood, near St Helens, accumulated maximum points after his success in the Energy Service Group Pro-Am at East Yorkshire resort Cottingham in May.
He is 10 in front of newly-crowned De Vere PGA North Region champion Adrian Ambler, from Wakefield club Low Laithes while Windermere’s Simon Edwards, a double Manx Classic and merit winner, is 46 adrift of him.
The 26-strong field at Ramsey includes last year’s joint winner Danny Wardrop, a Challenge Tour player from Didsbury and South African Sunshine Tour regular Neil Cheetham, who claimed the Manx title in 1998.
Local interest is provided by the host club’s Andrew Dyson, Mount Murray’s Allyn Laing, Douglas’ Gary Hunter and former Castletown pro Michael Brooks who is now based at Malton & Norton Golf Club in North Yorkshire.
First round draw is on pga.info